NEW ULM -A candidates forum sponsored by the New Ulm Chamber of Commerce was a bit one-sided on Friday.
Candidates for New Ulm Mayor, Senate District 21, House District 21B and U.S Congress in the First District were invited to attend the session at the New Ulm Country Club. Mayoral candidates Joel Albrecht and Bob Beussman were both on hand, and Rep. Paul Torkelson is running unopposed in 21B.
But Senate 21DFL candidate Al Kruse was unable to attend because of illness, and Rep. Tim Walz declined the opportunity to attend or to send a representative.
"Obviously, you know that during the campaign season, Tim has to balance forums and debates with actually getting out and talking to voters. Tim has been traveling southern Minnesota visiting small businesses, talking to veterans and discussing issues that are important to First District voters. He looks forward to continuing to do that in the coming weeks and having a robust discussion and debate about how to move our country forward," said his campaign spokesperson Sara Severs.
Walz's absence brought criticism from State Rep. Randy Demmer, his Republican challenger. Government representatives are people from the community who go off to serve the community he said, not some "ruling class."
"That may be something to remember in terms of how we treat our citizens that we represent, whether we're willing to come and visit with you," said Demmer.
"Congressman Walz has turned down invitations not just here, but Winona, Rochester, Owatonna. There's a pattern. I submit that if you're going to represent people, I doncare what level it is, yes there are challenges in schedules, but there's a pattern, and if you're not willing to come and visit with the very folks who are driving the economy, who are supposed to be, and are, providing the jobs and the prosperity that make things work in this country and this state, maybe you aren't proper representation."
Demmer said he has eight years in partisan politics, as a state representative from Hayfield, and many more years in business, where talking to customers is an important part of staying in business.
Demmer said his priorities for government would be for it to provide for the national security and public safety, and to take care of the most vulnerable.
He rejected criticism that the Walz campaign has leveled in advertising that Demmer wants to privatize Social Security. Walz's campaign said it would cost $2 triillion (based on a 2004 and 2005 analysis of the George W. Bush privatization plan) to make the transfer.
Demmer said it is "ludicrous" to think he or society would "pull the rug out from under our senior citizens." Demmer said he would work to preserve Social Security for those who are now dependent on it, and those who are close to retirement.
"But there are major problems with it. It is out of money. We are on a pay-go basis," said Demmer. There needs to be a solution for younger citizens, those who are years away from Social Security.
Mayoral candidates
New Ulm mayoral candidates spoke about the responsibilities of the position and how they could use the position.
"It is said the mayor is the face of the community," said Albrecht. "If that's so, then the people of the community have an apology coming, because I'm not much to look at."
Albrecht said the city's charter does limit the responsibilities of the mayor, but the people with the real responsibility are those who work on the boards and commissions, and it is the responsibility of the mayor to appoint people to those positions, and to see that they function properly.
Albrecht said the city's financial challenges began in 2003 with the state's budget problems. "We've had ups and downs and I don't see any change over the next four or five years."
Albrecht praised the work of the city council and city staff, who he said decided early on that they would start cutting back as the financial storm clouds gathered. "Thanks to their foresight we have not had the bumps experienced by other communities, who felt this was a one-term deal."
Speaking on the projects the city is undertaking, such as the Riverside to Minnecon Park trail, the mayor said that it is proper for the city to be spending money on such things at this time. The city's reserve funds are at the level recommended by the state, he said, and it is proper "to see what we can get done with the use of Legacy grants and other sources of funding."
Beussman said he would work as mayor, as Albrecht has, with the Highway 14 coalition. He also emphasized the need for the mayor to help stimulate the creation of jobs in New Ulm.
"I would be willing to work to create new jobs in New Ulm, and to preserve those that are already here.
"I would promote shopping in New Ulm, something we can use more of," he said.
Beussman said he would work hard to fulfill the duties of the office, as set out in the city charter.
Legislative candidates
Gary Dahms, the Republican candidate for District 21, spoke of the challenges the upcoming Legislature will face in setting a budget.
"the big challenge is how to balance the budget. Should we raise taxes on the wealthy? Should we cut services?"
Dahms cautioned against the unintended consequences of raising taxes on the wealthy.
"The people in the top 10 percent of income in this state pay 57 percent of the taxes," he said. "If we lose one high income family that moves out of state, we would need to bring back 86 families with moderate incomes. I don't see us doing that," he said.
Raising taxes on the middle class would lower their disposable income, meaning they'd buy fewer goods and services, leading to fewer jobs and less money to the state.
The state has to find better, more efficient ways to provide service, said Dahms.
"The cities and counties have had to become more efficient as Local Government Aid was cut back. It's time for the state to become more efficient, just as we have asked the cities and counties to do," said Dahms.
Dahms said there is a "fear factor" involved when talking about change, but raising taxes is not the solution. It only moves the problem down the road.
The state needs economic development policies that encourage job growth to spur Minnesota's economy.
Torkelson also said he didn't think raising taxes was appropriate. He said there is more bipartisan cooperation in the Legislature than reports seem to indicate.
Torkelson said the real division in the Legislature is not DFL vs. Republican, but metro vs. outstate legislators. In issues like school funding, nursing home reimbursement, and even whether fire departments have to pay sales tax for new radio equipment, the metropolitan area gets preferable treatment, said Torkelson. He'd like to see that equalized.